Manufacture of spiked shoes



July 21, 1 942. s, ABBOTT 2,290,792

MANUFACTURE OF SPIKED SHOES Fil-d Sept. 17, 1941 FY A Q. MaooW Patented July 21, 1942 MANUFACTURE OF SPIKED SHOES Fred S. Abbott, Needham, Mass, assignor to The Turf-Hugger Corporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 17, 1941, Serial No. 411,169

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of athletic shoes with replaceable spikes and has for its object to improve on the manner of securing the spike in the shoe sole.

The manufacture of athletic shoes with spikes which can be replaced when worn has presented a problem in securing the spikes in the sole re- .placeably and yet so firmly, without damaging the sole leather, as to prevent loosening of the spikes under the hard usage to which athletic shoes are subjected. For replaceability the use of a screw-threaded stem on the spike passing through an aperture in the sole and received by a screw-threaded socket locked in the aperture and permanently attached to the sole is the best way now known for securing the spike and is adequate except for the problem of permanently securing the socket to the sole so that throughout the life of the sole it will resist the rotative forces incident to removing and tightening the spike. The use of metal plates or the like inside the sole to which the sockets are riveted or otherwise secured is obviously objectionable as making the shoe unduly heavy and stiff. Other attempts to secure the socket such as by making the sole aperture small and forcing the socket into it or providing prongs on the socket which dig into the flesh side of the leather badly strain and weaken the leather in the vicinity of the aperture. As it is this portion of the leather which holds the spike in place and resists tipping of the spike when it is struck laterally during use, and as this portion will inevitably become somewhat weakened during use as the result of wetting and drying of the sole, any straining of this portion through efforts to secure the socket should be carefully avoided.

It is the object of my invention to obviate these difficulties. I have done so, in my preferred embodiment, by embedding the sockets in .a foundation layer, made of a resilient rubbery composition, lying contiguous to the inner surface of the out sole and from which the collars of the sockets protrude into the sole aperture. The bonding of the sockets to the composition, particularly if the sockets are made of brass as is preferred, is sufiicient to prevent turning of the sockets when the spike is removed or inserted and the compression of the resilient composition against the sole leather so firmly locks the spikes in place as to prevent their loosening or coming out during use, The spikes are thereby secured in place as desired with no undue strain on the marginal portion of the leather surrounding the aperture.

In the drawing- Fig, 1 is a plan view showing the under surface of a portion of a shoe sole having a number of spikes in place;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts disassembled;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section showing my preferred method of molding the foundation layer to embedthe sockets therein;

Fig. 5 is a lperspective view of the foundation layer, and

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section of a modification showing the spike unit secured in a r-ubber sole.

Fig. 1 shows the forepart of a leather sole 2 having a plurality of spike units 4 secured therein. The number and distribution of the spikes throughout the forepart area may, of course, :be varied and spikes may also be provided in the shank and heel of the shoe if desired.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 each of the spike units 4 consists of a spike 6 having a flange 8 which abuts the lower surface of the sole 2 and a stem l0 screw threaded to be received .within the correspondingly screw-threaded collar I2 of a socket I4 having a base I 6. The socket I4 is embedded in a foundation layer 20 of a resilient composition such as rubber.

The sockets I4 are distributed throughout the foundation layer in a pattern corresponding to the desired distribution of the spikes, as indicated in Fig. 1, and are embedded in such a way that the collars l2 of the sockets protrude above the surface 22 of the foundation layer which abuts the inner of flesh side 24 of the leather sole 2.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated the manner in which the sockets are embedded into the foundation layer 20 of rubbery composition while it is being molded. As there shown, the mold comprises a lower member 30 and an upper member 32, one of which, in this instance the lower member 39, has a cavity 36 shaped to conform to the desired outline of the foundation layer (Fig. 5), corresponding to the outline of the sole of the shoe. The cavity is recessed at 36 to receive a pin 38, screw threaded at 40 to mate with the internal screw thread of the collar IQ of the socket I l. The recess 36 is stepped, having a lower portion 35a of a diameter to receive freely the lower end 38a of the pin and an upper .wider portion 36b of a diameter to receive freely the collar 12 of the socket l4 and preferably provide a slight clearance therebetween into which a portion 29b of the rubbery composition may flow to surround and encase the socket collar. The recess 36 is further stepped at 35c, intermediate the recessed portions 36a and 35b, to receive a collar 330 formed on the pin 38.

The lower mold member 33 is provided with a plurality of such recesses 35, each formed as above described, disposed in a pattern corresponding to the desired pattern of sockets and spikes as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. Prior to the introduction to the cavity 34 of the biscuit from which the foundation layer is molded, a socket I4 is screwed onto a mating pin 33 until the collar 330 of the pin abuts the collar l2 of the socket. An assembled socket and pin are then dropped in each of the recesses 35 of the lower mold member 3E] so that the collar 380 of each pin rests on the shoulder formed by the intermediate step 360 of the recess 35. When all of the assembled pins and sockets have so been deposited the biscuit is laid in place, the upper mold member 32 is closed and heat is applied in accordance with conventional molding practices.

Because of my novel assembly of pins and sockets the sockets are accurately positioned in the desired pattern throughout the foundation layer. Furthermore, as the result of the abutment of the collar 380 of each pin with the shoulder formed by the step 360 in the recess 36 of the lower mold, I provide a uniform predetermined spacing between the base lb of each socket and the opposed surface of the lower mold as the result of which the socket bases l6 are embedded at a uniform depth in the foundation layer providing a marginal web 20a (Fig. 2) of rubbery composition effective for a purpose to be described.

To assist in looking the socket against rotation in the rubbery composition I preferably make the sockets of brass, rather than of steel of which the spikes are composed, as I have found that brass and rubber adhere tenaciously to each other. Furthermore, the base of each socket is apertured at one or more places lBa through which apertures the rubbery composition flows during the molding process.

After the foundation layer thus molded has hardened the mold is separated and the finished foundation layer with embedded sockets is removed. The pins 38 are removed from the mold with them and may readily be unscrewed for future use by automatic machinery of a character well known in the art.

The sole leather 2 is provided with apertures 5!] (Fig. 3) of a diameter approximating the external diameter of the sheathing 29b of rubber composition surrounding the collar I2 of the socket l4. These apertures 51] are cut through the leather in any suitable way such as by drilling or punching, preferably employing a template to insure their proper location. Thus, I avoid straining the marginal portions of the leather surrounding the apertures.

The foundation layer 20 thus made is fabricated into the shoe and the sole leather 2 superimposed thereon. As the result of the protrusion of the collars l2 of the sockets beyond the surface 20 of the foundation layer the leather sole readily is positioned over the foundation layer aligning the spike receiving apertures with the embedded sockets by the reception of the socket collars within the apertures.

The manufacture of the shoes is then completed aec ve during which the shoe sole may be leveled in accordance with conventional practice by suitable apparatus rolling or pressing the lower exposed surface of the sole 2 to minimize the curvature of the bottom surface of the sole resulting from the lasting operations. It is a feature of the preferred embodiment of my invention that, although the socket collars l2 protrude from the foundation layer 20 in an amount sufficient to align the apertures in the sole with the sockets embedded in the foundation layer, yet those collars do not protrude completely through the apertures 50 of the sole leather but stop short of it, as indicated by the recess margin 50a in Fig. 2, and thereby do not interfere with the use of such conventional leveling processes.

Finally, the spikes 6 are secured in Place and to assist tightening of the screw-threaded stems Ill into the collars l2 of the sockets the flanges 8 of the spikes are preferably notched as at 8a and 8b to receive a spanner wrench.

Tightening rotation of the spike 6 forces the flange 8 of the spike toward the base 16 of the socket, efiective to compress the marginal portion 2a of the sole leather and'th'e marginal web 200, of the foundation layer between the flange and base. In practice I have found that the socket will not rotate during the tightening of the spike but is firmly held as the result of the bonding of the rubbery composition through the apertures lfia of the socket base, the affinity of rubber for brass, the embracing grip of the sheath 20bsurrounding the socket collar and the compression of the marginal portion 20a, of the rubber composition between the socket base and the flesh side of the sole. Thereby the preferred embodiment of my invention above described prevents turning of the socket without requiring the use of prongs in the socket protruding into the tender flesh side of the leather sole, as heretofore, or of a force fit between the socket collar and the aperture 50 of the sole leather, which heretofore has strained and weakened the marginal portion of the leather. By my construction, on

, the contrary, the full strength of the marginal portion of the leather is preserved to hold the spike in place when it is urged sideways as the result of a lateral blow.

When the sole is exposed to moisture water cannot leak into the shoe around the spikes,

since the rubber composition is continuous above the sockets and thereby effectively Waterproofs the shoe. When the shoe is placed on a radiator to dry, the heat which the metal spike read ily conducts does not burn the tender flesh side of the leather as heretofore, since it is effectively heat-insulated from the spike by the foundation layer.

Although my invention is particularly directed to securing replaceable spikes in leather soles, it has features which may be utilized for securing that type of spike in a rubber sole. Thus the aflinity of rubber for brass may be availed of, as may the use of an interposed web of rubbery composition adapted to be compressed upon tightening of the spike. For this purpose it is necessary to modify the construction as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, wherein is the rubber sole provided with recess 82 which has an annular portion 82a between the lower end of the socket collar and the flange of the spike. Tightening rotation of the spike is effective to squeeze the rubber between the base of the socket and the flange of the spike causing the rubber to force its way into the annular portion 82a of the recess.

However, I have found that far superior results are obtained by my novel combination of leather sole and rubber composition foundation layer constructed substantially in the manner above described.

I claim:

1. In a shoe having a leather sole the combination of a plurality of sockets each having a base and an internally screw-threaded collar, a foundation layer for the socket made of a rubber composition in which the socket bases are embedded and from the lower face of which the socket collars protrude, an aperture in the sole to receive the collar of each socket and a spike for each socket having a, flange and a screwthreaded stem received in the collar of a socket.

2. In a shoe having a leather sole the combination of a plurality of sockets each having a base and an internally screw-threaded collar, a foundation layer for the sockets made of a rubbery composition in which the socket bases are embedded and from the lower face of which the socket collars protrude, an aperture in the sole to receive the collar of each socket and a spike for each socket having a flange and a screw-threaded stem received in the collar of a socket, the foundation layer having a portion which extends between the adjacent faces of the sole and the socket base which is compressed when the spike is tightened.

3. In a shoe having a leather sole the combination of a plurality of sockets each having a base and an internally screw-threaded collar, a foundation layer for the sockets made of a rubbery composition in which the socket bases are embedded and from the lower face of which the socket collars protrude, an aperture in the sole to receive the collar of each socket and a spike for each socket havin a flange and a screwthreaded stem received in the collar of a socket, and a sheathing of rubbery composition interposed between the outside of the socket collar and the inside of the hole in the leather embracing the socket collar to resist rotation of the socket when the spike is tightened.

4. A spike assembly for a leather shoe sole comprising the combination with the sOle of a pair of opposed metal discs, one inside the sole and the other outside of it, a layer of rubbery composition embedding the inner disc and extending between it and the inside surface of the sole, a spike attached to the outer disc, an aperture in the leather sole between the discs, and fastening means passing through said hole and connected to both discs to force them toward each other and compress the rubbery composition against the leather whereby to secure the spike in place.

. 5. The method of securing spikes to a shoe sole which consists in arranging and supporting, in a spaced relation pattern corresponding to that desired for the spikes, a plurality of sockets each having a base and a collar, molding the sockets into a layer of rubbery composition so that their bases and a portion of their collars are embedded in said layer and the remaining portion of their collars protrude therefrom and assembling spikes with the sockets.

6. The method of securing spikes to a shoe sole of predetermined thickness which consists in arranging and supporting, in a spaced relation pattern corresponding to that desired for the spikes, a plurality of sockets each having a base and a collar, moldin the sockets into a rubbery composition having a plane face adapted to abut the inner surface of the sole so that their bases and a, portion of their collars are embedded therein and the remaining portion of their collars protrude outwardly of said face a distance less than said thickness of the sole, cutting apertures in said sole arranged in said pattern and of a size to receive freely said protruding portions of said collars, assembling the sole and rubbery composition with the protruding portions of the collars received in said apertures and inserting spikes through said apertures and into said collars of said sockets.

FRED S. ABBOTT.

Patent No. 2,290,792.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

, July 21, 19L 2, FRED s. ABBOTT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring; correction as follows: Page}, first column, line lO, claim 1, for the'word "rubber" read rubbery--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read wit-h this correction therein that the same may conform to the record] of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of January, A. D. 19L 5 v Henry. Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of v Patents. 

